Plan your dream vacation now

Newlywed, new mom and first-time home buyer, Sarah is currently playing out her exciting life in Phoenix, Arizona. She recently gave up her job in finance to stay at home with her baby girl, who between bath time and feeding time, keeps ...

Your dream vacation awaits

We all have a “dream” vacation in mind that we would go on in a heartbeat if it weren’t for kids, finances, jobs and all of life’s other stresses. There really never is a perfect time to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so we say start planning it now!

Start planning!

Your dream vacation awaits

We all have a “dream” vacation in mind that we would go on in a heartbeat if it weren’t for kids, finances, jobs and all of life’s other stresses. There really never is a perfect time to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so we say start planning it now!

Most families go on a vacation once per year — and couples vacation without the kids even less often than that. It seems as though there’s always something preventing us from taking the trip of a lifetime, but really — is there ever a perfect time to go on a vacation? Probably not. We all have bills, jobs, children and responsibilities. But life is short, and we think it’s time to start doing the things we love now. With a little bit of planning you can start living your dreams, and what better way to start than with your dream vacation?

Set goals

If no goals are set, a dream stays just that — a dream. If you plan on taking your dream trip with your significant other, start discussing it and setting goals now. Here are some specific goals to keep in mind:

When do you want this trip to take place?

What is the budget for the trip?

What’s your plan for saving for this budget?

Where will the kids stay?

How long can you take off from work?

What activities do you want to do once there?

Setting goals makes dreams attainable. Come up with a plan, start saving and put the plan into action.

Put the goals into action

Commit to your goals and be specific. For example, if your dream vacation costs $5,000 and you plan on going in 10 months, you need to start saving $500 per month. Some easy ways to save money monthly include:

Reduce your cable, internet and cell phone plans

Eat at home as often as possible

Make coffee at home instead of going to Starbucks (this could save $100+ per month)

Save on gas by carpooling

Don’t overspend on gifts for others

Cancel any unused subscriptions or memberships (tanning, gym, etc.)

Go to the hair and nail salon less often

Yes, you will have to make sacrifices, but you only live once. When you’re sitting on the beach with a margarita in hand, you won’t mind at all that you skipped a few morning lattes.

Why you should do it now

Life is short — so short. As we get older, we typically only add more and more responsibilities to our already hectic lives. Vacations are a way to escape from reality, become better connected to your spouse, get a break from work and just relax. We all need vacations! Start planning one now and give yourself something to look forward to this year.

Dream vacation ideas

To some, a dream vacation involves nothing but a beach, a drink in hand and a book. Others prefer getting outdoors and being adventurous, and some love learning about other cultures and traveling abroad. The beauty of a dream vacation is that you get to pick — it’s your dream! Top dream vacations include Hawaii, Europe, the Caribbean and Canada.